As we head into the holiday shopping season, consumers are being reminded to safeguard personal information when making purchases online.
Australians are forecast to spend a record $4 billion online in the lead up to Christmas, sharing personal data including address and credit card details. Breaches of this personal data can have serious consequences, such as identity theft and financial fraud.
If you plan on shopping online these holidays, follow these tips from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to protect your data online:
- Value your personal information – Your personal information is valuable and should be protected. Instead of signing up for a loyalty program or creating an online account, consider using a “guest” profile to complete your purchase. You can also leave data fields blank to limit the amount of personal information a site collects and stores.
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